In youth I rangde the feeldes where vices all did growe In youth alas I wanted grace such vice to ouerthrowe In youth what I thought sweete most bitter now do finde Thus hath the follies of my youth with folly kept me blind Yet as the Egle castes her bill whereby her age renueth So Lorde with mercy doe forgiue the follies of my youth FJNJS M. Hunnis No pleasure without some paine HOw can the tree but wast and wither away That hath not sometime comfort of the Sunne How can that flower but fade and soone decay That alwayes is with darke cloudes runne Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knoweth no ioy at all What foodlesse beast can liue long in good plight Or is it life where sences there be none Or what auaileth eyes without their light Or els a tongue to him that is alone Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all Whereto serue eares if that there be no sound Or such a head where no deuise doth growe But all of plaintes since sorrow is the ground Whereby the hart doth pine in deadly woe Is this a life nay death you may it call That feeles eche paine and knowes no ioy at all FINIS L. Vaux The fruite of feined friendes JN choise of frends what hap had I to chuse one of cirēs kind whose harp whose pipe whos melody could fede my ears make me blind Whose pleasant voice made me forget that in sure trust is great deceit In trust I see is treason founde and man to man deceitfull is And whereas treasure doth abound of flatterers there doe not misse Whose painted speach outward show do seme as frends be not so Would I haue thought in thee to be the nature of the Crocadill Which if a mā a slepe may see with bloudy thirst desires to kill And then with teares a while gan weepe the death of him thus slaine a sleepe O fauel false thou traitor born what mischief more might thou deuise Then thy deare frend to haue in scorne him to woūd in sundry wise Which still a frende pretends to be and are not so by proofe I see Fie fie vpon such trecherie W. H. If such false Shippes doe haunt the shore Strike downe the saile and trust no more M. Edwards A dialogue betweene a Gentleman and his Loue. A. SHall I no way winne you to graunt my desire B. What woman will graunt you the thing you require A. You onely to Loue me is all that I craue B. You onely to leaue me is all I would haue A. My deare alas now say not so B. To Loue you best I must say no A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. The swifter I followe then you flie away B. Swift haukes in their flying oft tymes misse their pray A. Yet some killeth deadly that flie to the marke B. You shall touche no feather thereof take no carke A. Yet hope shall further my desire B. You blowe the coales and raise no fire A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. To loue is no daunger where true Loue is ment B. I will Loue no ranger least that I repent A. My Loue is no raunger I make God auow B. To trust your smothe sayings I sure knowe not how A. Most truth I meane as time shall well trie B. No truth in men I ofte espie A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt B. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Some women may say nay and meane Loue most true B. Some women can make fooles of as wise men as you A. In tyme I shall catche you I knowe when and where B. I will soone dispatche you you shall not come there A. Some speedes at length that ofte haue miste B. I am well armde come when you liste A. Yet will I not flitt B. then play on the bitt A. I will B. doe still A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. beshrewe me than A. Yet worke your kinde kindly graunt me Loue for Loue B. I will vse you friendly as I shall you proue A. Most true you shall finde me I this doe protest B. Then sure you shall binde me to graunt your request A. O happie threede now haue I spunne B. You sing before the conquest wonne A. Why then will you swarue B. euen as you deserue A. Loue still B. I will A. yet kill not B. I will not A. Make me your man B. come to me than FJNJS M. Edwards Exclaiming vpon his vnkind Loue his friend replieth wittely M. VVHat death may bee compared to Loue H. What griefe therein now doest thou proue M. My paines alas who can expresse H. I see no cause of heauinesse M. My Ladies lookes my woe hath wrought H. Then blame thine eyes that first hath sought M. I burne alas and blowe the fire H. A foole consumes by his desire M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. My sugred sweete is mixed with gall H. Thy Ladie can not doe with all M. The more I seeke the lesse I finde H. Then striue not with the streame and wind M. Her most I loue although I smarte H. With her owne sworde thou slaiest thy hart M. Such pleasaunt baites who can refraine H. Such baites will sure breede thee great paine M. What shall I doe than H. Come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. Her golden beames mine eyes doe daze H. Vpon the Sunne thou maiest not gaze M. She might reward my cruell smarte H. She thinkes thou hardst a fained harte M. She laughes to heare my wofull cries H. Forsake her then in tyme be wise M. No no alas that may not bee H. No wise man then will pitie thee M. What shall I doe than H. come out and thou can M. Alas I die H. what remedie M. A liuyng death loe thus I proue H. Such are the fruites of froward Loue M. O that I might her Loue once gaine H. Thy gaine would not halfe quite the paine M. Her will I Loue though she be coye H. A foole him selfe will still annoye M. Who will not die for suche a one H. Bee wise at length let her alone M. I can not doe so H. then be thy owne fo M. Alas I die H. what remedie FJNJS E. S. The complaint of a Louer wearing Blacke and Taunie A Crowne of Bayes shall that man weare That triumphes ouer mee For Blacke and Taunie will I weare Which
brest She was full wearie of her watch and greeued with her child She rocked it and rated it till that on her it smilde Then did she say now haue I found this prouerb true to proue The falling out of faithfull freends reliuing is of loue Then tooke I paper penne and ynke this prouerb for to write In regester for to remaine of such a worthy wight As she proceeded thus in song vnto her little bratt Much matter vttered she of waight in place whereas she satt And proued plaine there was no beast nor creature bearing life Could well be knowne to liue in loue without discord and strife Then kissed she her little babe and sware by God aboue The falling out of faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd that neither king ne prince ne lord could liue aright Vntill their puissance they did proue their manhood and their might When manhood shall be matched so that feare can take no place Then weary workes make warriours eche other to embrace And leaued their force that failed them which did consume the rout That might before haue liued their time and nature out Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reproue The falling out of faithfull freendes renuing is of loue She sayd she saw no fishe ne foule nor beast within her haunt That mett a straunger in their kind but could giue it a taunt Since fleshe might not endure but rest must wrath succeede And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feede So noble nature can well ende the worke she hath begone And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some Thus in song she oft reherst as dyd her well behoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue I meruaile much pardy quoth she for to behold the route To see man woman boy beast to tosse the world about Some kneele sōe crouch sōe beck some chek some cā smothly smile And some embrace others in arme and there thinke many a wile Some stand aloufe at cap and knee some humble and some stoute Yet are they neuer freendes in deede vntill they once fall out Thus ended she her song and sayd before she did remoue The falling out of faithfull freendes is the renuing of loue FJNJS M. Edwards 51. Thinke to dye THe life is long which lothsomely doth last The dolefull dayes draw slowly to their date The present pangues and painfull plagues forepast Yeeldes griefe aye greene to stablish this estate So that I feele in this great storme and strife That death is sweete that shortneth such a life And by the stroke of this strange ouerthrowe All which conflict in thraldome I was thrust The Lord be praised I am well taught to know From whence man came and eke whereto he must And by the way vpon how feeble force His terme doth stand till death doth end his course The pleasant yeeres that seemes so sweetely ronne The merry dayes to ende so fast that fleete The ioyfull wightes of which dayes drawes so sone The happy howres which moe do misse then meete Do all consume as snowe against the Sunne And death makes end of all that life begunne Since death shall dure till all the world be wast What meaneth man to dreade death then so sore As man might make that life should alway last Without regard the Lord hath ledde before The daunce of death which all must runne on rowe The hower wherein onely himselfe doth knowe If man would minde what burdens life doth bring What greeuous crimes to God he doth commit What plagues what perill thereby spring With no sure hower in all his dayes to sit He would sure thinke as with great cause I doe The day of death is happier of the two Death is the doore whereby we draw to ioy Life is the lake that drowneth all in payne Death is so dole it seaseth all away Life is so leude that all it yeeldes is vayne And as by life in bondage man is brought Euen so by death is freedome likewise wrought Wherefore with Paule let all men wish and pray To be dissolued of this foule fleshly masse Or at the least be armd against the day That they be found good souldiers prest to passe From life to death from death to life againe And such a life as euer shall remaine FINIS D. S. 51. If thou desire to liue in quiet rest geue eare and see but say the best If thou delight in quietnes of life Desire to shunne from brales debate and strife To liue in loue with god with freend and foe In rest shalt sleepe when others cannot so Giue eare to all yet doo not all beleeue And see the end and then do sentence geeue But say for truth of happy liues assinde The best hath he that quiet is in minde FJNJS M. Hunnis 52. Being forsaken of his freend he complaineth VVHy should I linger long to liue In this disease of fantasie Since fortune doth not cease to giue Thinges to my minde most contrarie And at my ioyes doth lowre and frowne Till she hath turned them vpsidowne A freend I had to me most deere And of long time faithfull and iust There was no one my hart so neere Nor one in whom I had more trust Whom now of late without cause why Fortune hath made my enemy The grasse me thinkes should grow in skie The starres vnto the earth cleaue fast The water streame should passe awrie The windes should leaue their strength of blast The Sunne and Moone by one assent Should both forsake the firmament The fishe in ayre should slye with finne The foules in floud should bring forth fry All thinges methinkes should erst beginne To take their course vnnaturally Afore my freend should alter so Without a cause to be my foe But such is Fortunes hate I say Such is his will on me to wreake Such spite he hath at me alway And ceasseth not my hart to breake With such despite of crueltie Wherefore then longer liue should I. FINIS E. S. 54. Prudens The history of Damacles Dionise VVHo so is set in princely throne and craueth rule to beare Is still beset on euery side with perill and with feare High trees by stormy windes are shakt and rent vp from the ground And flashly flackes of lightning flames on turrets do rebound When little shrubs in safetie lurke in couert all alowe And freshly florish in their kind what euer wind doe blowe The cruel king of Scisili who fearing Barbars hands Was wont to sludge his beard himself with cole and fire brands Hath taught vs this the proofe whereof full plainly we may see Was neuer thing more liuely touched to shewe it so to bee This king did seeme to Damacles to be the happiest wight Because he thought none like to him in power or in might Who did alone so farre excell the rest in his degree As doth the Sunne in brightnes cleare the darkest starre
againe The proofe whereof is true to make his worke indure He paines himselfe a newe in hope to dwell more sure And in some secret place a corner of a wall He frameth himselfe a pace to builde and rest withall His pleasure sweete to staie when he to rest is bent And vgly shamble Flee approcheth to his tent And there intendes by force his labours great to win Or els to yeelde his corse by fatall death therein Thus is the Spiders nest from time to time throwne downe And he to labour prest with endlesse paine vnknowne So such as Louers bee like trauell doe attaine Those endlesse works ye see are alwayes full of paine FJNJS M. Hunnis A Louers ioye J Haue no ioy but dreame of ioy and ioy to thinke on ioye A ioy I withstoode for to enioy to finishe mine annoy I hate not without cause alas yet Loue I knowe not why I thought to hate I can not hate although that I should dye A foe most sweete a freend most sower I ioy for to embrace I hate the wrong and not the wight that workt my wofull case What thing it is I knowe not I but yet a thing there is That in my fancie still perswads there is no other blisse The ioyes of life the pangues of death it make me feele eche day But life nor death this humour can deuise to weare away Faine would I die but yet in death no hope I see remaines And shall I liue since life I see a course of sorie paines What is it then that I doe seeke what ioy would I aspire A thing that is diuine belike to high for mans desire FJNJS F. K. Euill to him that euill thinketh THe subtill slily slights that worldly men doe worke The friendly showes vnder whose shade most crafte doeth often lurke Enforceth me alas with yernfull voyce to say Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay The birde that dreads no guile is soonest caught in snare Eche gentle hart deuoide of craft is soonest brought to care Good nature soonest trapt which giues me cause to say Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay I see the Serpent vile that lurkes vnder the greene How subtilly he shroudes himselfe that he may not be seene And yet his fosters bane his learing lookes bewray Wo worth the wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay Wo worth the feining lookes on fauour that we doe waite Wo worth the feined friendly hart that harbours deepe deceite Wo worth the Vipers broode oh thrise wo worth I say All worldly wilie heads that seekes the simple mans decay FJNJS M. Edwards He assureth his constancie WIth painted speache I list not proue my cunning for to trie Nor yet will vse to fill my penne with gilefull flatterie With pen in hand hart in brest shall faithfull promise make To loue you best and serue you most by your great vertues sake And sure dame Nature hath you deckt with gifts aboue the rest Let not Disdaine a harbour finde within your noble brest For Loue hath lead his lawe a like to men of eche degree So that the Begger with the Prince shall Loue as well as he I am no Prince I must confesse nor yet of Princes line Nor yet a brutish Begger borne that feedes among the Swine The fruite shall trie the tree at last the blossomes good or no Then doe not iudge of me the worse till you haue tried me so As I deserue so then reward I make you iudge of all If I be false in worde or deede let Lightning Thunder fall And Furies fell with franticke fitts bereue and stay my breathe For an example to the rest if I shall breake my faith FJNJS M. Hunnis Complaining his mishapp to his friend he complaineth wittely A. THe fire shall freze the frost shall frie the frozen moūtaines hie B. What straunge thinges hath dame natures force to turne her course awrie A. My Loue hath me left and taken a newe man B. This is not straunge it happes oft times the truth to scan A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is this not straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. By skilfull meanes I here reclaime to stoope vnto my lure B. Such haggard Haukes will soare away of them who can be sure A. With siluer bels and hoode my ioy was her to decke B. She was full gorgde she would the sooner giue the checke A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Her chirping lips should chirpe to me swete words of her desire B. Such chirping birdes who euer saw to preach still on one brire A. She said she loued me best and would not till she die B. She said in wordes she thought it not as time doth trie A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Can no man winne a woman so to make her Loue endure B. To make the Foxe his wiles to leaue what man will put in vre A. Why then there is no choise but all women will chaunge B. As men doe vse so some women doe Loue to raunge A. The more is my paine B. her Loue then refraine A. Who thought she would flitt B. eche one that hath witt A. Is not this straunge B. light Loue will chaunge A. Sith slipper gaine falles to my lot farewell that gliding pray B. Sith that the dice doth runne awrie betimes leaue of thy play A. I will no more lament the thing I may not haue B. Then by exchaunge the losse to come all shalt thou saue A. Loue will I refraine B. thereby thou shalt gaine A. With losse I will leaue B. she will thee deceaue A. That is not straunge B. then let her raunge FINIS M. Edwardes No paines comparable to his attempt LIke as the dolefull Doue delightes alone to bee And doth refuse the bloumed branche chusing the leaflesse tree Whereon wailing his chaunce with bitter teares besprent Doth with his bill his tender breast oft pearse and all to rent Whose greeuous gronyngs tho whose gripes of pyning paine Whose gastly lookes whose bloudy streames out flowing frō ech vain Whose falling from the tree whose panting on the grounde Examples bee of myne estate tho there appeare no wounde FINIS W. Hunnis He repenteth his follie A Lacke when I looke backe vpon my youth thatz paste And deepely ponder youthes offence youthes reward at laste With sighes and teares I say O God I not denie My youth with follie hath deserued with follie for to die But yet if euer sinfull man might mercie moue to ruthe Good Lorde with mercie doe forgiue the follies of my youthe
earthly masse the soule from death to saue By feare of God to rule our steppes from sliding into vice A wisedome is which we neglect although of greater price A poynt of wisedome also this we commonly esteeme That euery man should be in deede that he desires to seeme To bridle that desire of gaine which forceth vs to ill Our hauty stomackes Lord represse to tame presuming will This is the wisedome that we should aboue each thing desire O heauenly God from sacred throne that grace in vs inspire And print in our repugnant harts the rules of wisedome true That all our deedes in worldly life may like therof insue Thou onely art the liuing spring from whom this wisedome flowes O wash therwith our sinful hartes from vice that therin growes FJNJS M. Edwards 38. A freendly admonition YE stately wightes that liue in quiet rest Through worldly wealth which God hath giuen you Lament with teares and sighes from dolefull breast The shame and power that vice obtaineth now Behold how God doth dayly profer grace Yet we disdaine repentance to embrace The suddes of sinne do soke into the minde And cancred vice doth vertue quite expell No change to good alas can resting finde Our wicked hartes so stoutly do rebell Not one there is that hasteth to amend Though God from heauen his dayly threats downe send We are so slow to change our blamefull life We are so prest to snatch aluring vice Such greedy hartes on euery side be rife So few that guide their will by counsell wise To let our teares lament the wretched case And call to God for vndeserued grace You worldly wightes that haue your fancies fixt On slipper ioy of terraine pleasure here Let some remorse in all your deedes be mixt Whiles you haue time let some redresse appeare Of sodaine death the houre you shall not know And looke for Death although it seemeth slow Oh be no iudge in other mens offence But purge thy selfe and seeke to make thee free Let euery one apply his diligence A change to good within him selfe to see O God direct our feete in such a stay From cancred vice to shun the hatefull way FINIS R. Hill 39. Sundry men sundry affectes JN euery wight some sundry sort of pleasure I do finde Which after he doth seeke to ease his toyling minde Diana with her trayning chase of hunting had delight Against the fearful Deare she could direct her shotte aright The loftie yeeres in euery age doth still embrace the same The sport is good if vertue doo assist the cheerefull game Minerua in her chattering armes her courage doth aduaunce In triall of the bloudy wars she giueth luckie chaunce For sauegard men imbrace the same which do so needfull seeme That noble hartes their cheefe delightes in vse thereof esteeme In warlike games to trie or ryde the force of armes they vse And base the man we do account that doth the same refuse The siluer sound of musickes cordes doth please Apollos wit A sentence which the heauens aduaunce where it deserues to sit A pleasure apt for euery wight releefe to carefull minde For woe redresse for care a salue for sadnes helpe we finde The soueraigne praise of Musicke stil doth cause the Poets faine That whirling Spheres and eake the heauens do hermonie retaine I hard that these three powers at variance lately fel Whiles each did praise his owne delight the other to excel Then Fame as an indifferent iudge to end the case they call The praise pronounced by her to them indifferently doth fall Diana health and strength maintaine Minerua force doth tame And Musicke giues a sweete delight to further others game These three delightes to hawtre mindes the worthiest are esteemed If vertue be annexed to them they rightly be so deemed With ioy they do reuiue the witte with sorow oft opprest And neuer suffer solempne greefe to long in mind to rest Be wise in mirth and seeke delight the same doe not abuse In honest mirth a happy ioy we ought not to refuse FJNJS R. Hill 40. Of a Freend and a Flatterer A Trustie freend is rare to finde a fawning foe may sone be got A faithful frend bere stil in mind but fawning foe regard thou not A faithfull freend no cloke doth craue to colour knauery withal But Sicophant a Gun must haue to beare a port what ere befall A nose to smel out euery feast a brasen face to set it out A shamles child or homely gest whose life doth like to range about A fauning foe while wealth doth last a thefe to rob spoile his freend As strong as oke while wealth doth last but rotten sticke doth proue in the end Looke first then leape beware the mire Burnt Child is warnd to dread the fire Take heede my freend remember this Short horse they say soone curried is FJNJS M. Edwards 41. Of sufferaunce commeth case TO seeme for to reuenge each wrong in hasty wise By proofe of guiltlesse men it hath not bene the guise In slaunders lothsome brute where they condemned be with ragelesse moode they suffer wrong where truth shal try thē free These are the patient pangues that passe within the brest Of those that feele their cause by mine where wrong hath right opprest I know how by suspect I haue bene iudgd awry And graunted gilty in the thing that clerely I deny My faith may me defend if I might loued be God iudge me so as from the guilt I know me to be free I wrote but for my selfe the griefe was all mine owne As who would proue extremitie by proofe it might be knowne Yet are there such that say they can my meaning deeme Without respect of this old troth things proue not as they seeme Whereby it may befall in iudgement to be quicke To make themselues suspect therewith that needed not to kicke Yet in resisting wrong I would not haue it thought I do amisse as though I knew by whom it might be wrought If any such there be that herewithall be vext It were their vertue to beware and deeme me better next L. Vaux 43. All thinges are Vaine ALthough the purple morning brags in brightnes of the sunne As though he had of chased night a glorious conquest wonne The time by day giues place againe to force of drowsie night And euery creature is constrained to change his lustie plight Of pleasures all that here we taste We feele the contrary at laste In spring though pleasant Zephirus hath fruitefull earth inspired And neuer hath ech bush ech branch with blossomes braue attired Yet fruites and flowers as buds and blomes ful quickly withered be When stormie winter comes to kill the sommers iolitie By time are got by time are lost All thinges wherin we pleasure most Although the Seas so calmely glide as daungers none appeare And doubt of stormes in skie is none king Phaebus shines so cleare Yet when the boisterous windes breake out raging waues do swel The seely barke
keepe the payne From her that is so cruell still No no on her worke all your will And let her feele the power of all your might And let her haue her most desire with speede And let her pine away both day and night And let her mone and none lament her needde And let all those that shall her see Despise her state and pittie me FJNIS E. O. Not attayning to his desyre he complayneth J Am not as I seeme to be nor when I smyle I am not glad A thrall although you count me free I most in myrth most pensiue sad I smile to shade my bitter spight as Haniball that sawe in sight His couÌ„try soile with Carthage towne by Romane force defaced downe And Cesar that presented was with noble Pompeis princely head As t were some iudge to rule the cace a floud of teares he semde to shed Although in deede it sprong of ioy yet other thought it was annoy Thus contraries be vsed I finde of wise to cloke the couert minde I Haniball that smiles for grief let you Cesars teares suffice The one that laughs at his mischief the other all for ioy that cries I smile to see me scorned so you weepe for ioy to see me woe And I a hart by Loue slaine dead presents in place of Pompeis head O cruell hap and hard estate that forceth me to loue my fo Accursed be so foule a fate my choise for to prefixe it so So long to fight with secret sore and finde no secret salue therefore Some purge their paine by plaint I finde but I in vain do breath my winde FINIS E. Ox. His minde not quietly setled he writeth thus EVen as the waxe doth melt or dewe consume away Before the Sunne so I behold through carefull thoughts deeay For my best lucke leades me to such sinister state That I doe waste with others Loue that hath my selfe in hate And he that beates the bushe the wished birde not gotts But such I see as sitteth still and holdes the fouling netts The Drone more Honnie sucks that laboureth not at all Then doth the Bee to whose most paine least pleasure doth befall The Gardner sowes the seedes whereof the flowers doe growe And others yet doe gather them that tooke lesse paine I knowe So I the pleasant Grape haue pulled from the Vine And yet I languish in great thirst whiles others drinke the wine Thus like a woefull wight I woue the webb of woe The more I would weede out my cares the more they seme to grow The which betokeneth ioy forsaken is of mee That with the carefull Culuer climes the worne and withered tree To entertaine my thoughtes and there my happ to mone That neuer am lesse idle loe then when I am alone FINIS E. Ox. No ioy Comparable to a quiet minde JN lothsome race pursued by slippery life Whose sugred guile doth glistering ioy present The carefull ghost oppressed sore with strife Yeeldes ghostly grones from painefull passions sent The sinfull flesh that beares him here in vewe In steede of life doth dreadfull death pursue The way he seeth by touche of merites grace Wherein to runne alas he gladly would But filthy fleshe his wretched dwelling place Doth so rebell at that which doe he should That silly soule who feeles his heauie neede Can onely will but naught performe in deede The will through grace doth oft desire the good But all in vaine for that the fleshly foe Yeeldes forth such fruites as sinnes hath bred in bud And blindly suckes the sapp of deadly woo Esteeming showes of fickell fancies knowen And scorning fruite by grace eternall sowen Though eye doth see that death doth swallow all Both life and lust and euery sound delight Yet wretched fleshe through sinne is made so thrall That nought it markes apparent thinges in sight That might him traine to care of better grace Both doth his bale with greedy lust imbrace Then sins desert and all things weare away That nought remaine but fruite of grace or sinne God build in vs such conscience as can say This fruite not mine but sinne that dwelt me in For why to sinne I dayly do in sight That vnto Christ I may reuiue my spright FJNJS ê™ Candish A Complaint IF Cressed in her gadding moode Had not gone to the greekish hoste Where she by Diomede was woode And wonne from him that loude her most She had not fallen to such mischeefe Nor turned Troylus to such greefe Nor Diomede had not vpbrayed To worthy Troylus Cressed spoyle Nor these two worthies had not frayed So oft ech others fame to foyle If Catterwaling Cressed coy Had taried with her loue in Troy No Troians foe nor cruell Greike Had triumphte ouer her good name If she had not gone forth to seeke The Campe where women winne no fame She had bene calde no common Gill If she in Troy had tarryed still She had not knowne the Lazars call With Cuppe and Clap her almes to winne Nor how infectiue scabbe and scall Do cloth the Lepre Ladies skinne She had no such distresse in Troy But honour fauour wealth and ioy Howbeit she could not tarry there But needes forsooth a gadding go To feele the tast of Straungers chere Nise noueltie lo prickt her so She could not hold where she was well But strayed and into ruin fell I pleasure not to blaze her blame Nor chiding cannot mend her mis But all good women by her shame May learne what Catterwaling is For wandring women most men say Cannot be good and goe astray It is not womens excercise To straye or gadde in field or towne Men count them neyther good nor wyse They blot and blemish their renowne They hurt their fame they please their foe And greeues their friend to see them so FINJS Troylus A Replye NO gadding moode but forced strife Compelled me retyre from Troy If Troylus would haue vowde his wife We might haue dwelt in former ioy Ne Diomede nor greekish wight Had sought my blame or his despight If ought the feeble force of mine Could haue withstood the Kingly heast If flowing fluds of stilled rine Had pittie found in Troians brest I had not bene Antenors prise Nor thus bene thrall to noted vise The blome of blame had not bine spread The seede of shame had not bine sowne If Knightly prowes his minde had lead By rightfull force to keepe his owne I had not thralled bine to ill If he in Troy had kept me still My heauie hart and dolefull case Which craues your pitie not your spight Full well you know hath had no place If he had garded well his right I see your curtesie small your store That blaze my plague to make it more You say in Troy I woulde not bee With gadding minde you charge me still When well you knowe that hie decree Did send me forth against my will Sith thus you triumph at my fall Ye ought to tell the cause withall If nought you ioy to blaze my
here ment See all say naught holde thee content The Prouerbe is not South and West Which hath bee sayd long time agoe Of little medling commeth rest The busie man neuer wanteth woe The best way is in all world 's sent Se all say naught hold thee content FJNJS J. Haywood A description of the world WHat is this world a net to snare the soule A mas of sinne a desert of deceite A momentes ioy an age of wretched dole A lure from grace for flesh a lothsome bayre Vnto the minde a canker worme of care Vnsure vniust in rendring man his share A place where pride orerunnes the honest minde Where rich men ioynes to robbe the shiftlesse wretch Where bribing mistes doe blinde the Iudges eyes Where Parasites the fattest crums do catch Where good desartes which chalenge like reward Are ouer blowne with blastes of light regard And what is men dust slime a puffe of wynde Conceaude in sinne plaste in the world with greefe Brought vp with care till care hath caught his minde And then till death vouchsafe him some releefe Day yea nor night his care doth take an ende To gather goods for other men to spende Oh foolish man that art in office plaste Thinke whence thou camste and whether thou shalt go The haute hie Okes small windes haue ouercast When slender weedes in roughest weather groe Euen so pale death oft spares the wretched wight And woundeth you who wallow in delight You lusty youthes that nourish hie desire Abase your plumes which makes you looke so bigge The Collyers Cut the Courtiers Steede will tyre Euen so the Clarke the parsons graue doth digge Whoso happe is yet here long life to winne Doth heape God wot but sorrow vpon sinne And to be short all sortes of men take heede The Thunderboltes the lofty towers tare The lightning flashe consumes the house of Reede Yea more in time all earthly thinges will weare Saue only man who as his earthly time is Shall liue in woe or else in endlesse blisse FJNJS G. G. Being in Loue he complaineth MY haute desyre to hye that seeketh rest My feare to find where hope my help should giue My sighes and plaintes sent from vnquiet brest The hardned hart that will not truth beleeue Bids me dispayre and Reason saith to me Forsake for shame the sute that shameth thee But when mine eyes behold the alluring cayes Which only me to Cupids spoyle haue trainde Desyre a new doth worke his wonted wayes Thus shall I freeze and yet I frye in payne O quenchlesse fyre to quayle and quick agayn Such is the flame where burning loue doth last As hye ne low can beare with reasons bitte And such is loue wherein is setled fast That naught but death can ease his feruent fitte Then cannot I nor loue will me forsake Sweete is the death that faithfull loue doth make FINIS M. Edwardes The Complaint of a sinner O Heauenly God O Father deare cast downe thy tender eye Vpon a wretch that prostrate heare before thy face doth lye O powre thy precious Oyle of grace into my wounded hart O lette the droppes of mercy swage the rigor of my smart My faynting soule suppressed sore with carefull clogge of sinne In humble sorte submits it selfe thy mercy for to winne Graunt mercy then O Sauiour sweete to me most wofull thrall Whose mornefull crie to thee O Lord doth still for mercy call Thy blessed will I haue despised vpon a stubborne mynde And to the sway of worldly thinges my selfe I haue inclinde Forgetting heuen and heauenly powers where god saints do dwel My life had like to tread the path that leades the way to hell But now my Lord my lodestarre bright I will no more doe so To thinke vpon my former life my hart doth melt for wo. Alas I sigh Alas I sobbe alas I doe repent That euer my licencious will so wickedly was bent Sith thus therefore with earnefull plaint I doe thy mercy craue O Lord for thy great mercies sake let me thy mercy haue Restore to life the wretched soule that else is like to die So shall my voyce vnto thy name sing prayse eternally Now blessed be the father first and blessed be the Sonne And blessed be the holy Ghost by whom all thinges are done Blesse me O blessed Trinitie with thy eternall grace That after death my soule may haue in heauen a dwelling place FJNJS F. Kindlemarshe The fruite that springes from wilfull wits is ruth and ruines rage And sure what headlesse youth commits repentaunce rues in age J Rage in restlesse youth and ruines rule my dayes I rue to late my rechlesse youth by rules of reasons wayes I ranne so long a race in search of surest way That leisure learnde me tread the trace that lead to leude decay I gaue so large a rayne to vnrestrayned bitte That now with proofe of after payne I wayle my wante of witte I trifled forth the time with trust to selfe conceites Whilste plenties vse prickt forth my tyme to seeke for sugred baites Wherein once learnde to finde I found so sweete a tast That due foresight of after speede selfe will esteemed wast Which will through wilfulnesse hath wrought my witlesse fall And heedelesse youthes vnskilfulnesse hath lapt my life in thrall Whereby by proofe I know that pleasure breedeth payne And he that euill seede doth sow euill fruite must reape agayne Let such therefore whose youth and purses are in prime Foresee and shunne the helpelesse ruth which sues mispence of time For want is next to waste and shame doth sinne ensue Euill speeding proofe hath heedelesse hast my self haue proued it true When neighboures next house burnes t is time there of take heede For fortunes wheele hath choyse of turnes which change of chaunces breede My saile hath bene aloft though now I beare but low Who climbes so high seeld falleth soft deadst ebbe hath highest flow FINJS ê™ Yloop. ¶ An Epitaph vpon the death of syr William Drury Knight Lord Justice and Gouernour of Yreland deceased at Waterford the thyrd of October An. Do. 1579. JN place where wantes Apollo with his Lute There peeuish Pan may prease to pipe a daunce Where men of skill and learned Clarkes are mute There Fooles may prate and hit the truth perchaunce Why spare I then to speake when all are mumme And vertue left forgot in time to come Giue pardon then to him that takes in hande Though neuer taught with Poets pen to write Will yet presume to let you vnderstand No straunge euent although a sieldome sight Which late I saw a dolefull tale to tell And followeth thus then marke how it befell I saw Report in mourning weede arayde Whose blubbered eyes bewrayde some secret greefe Besprent with teares with sighes and sobbes he sayd You martiall wights abandone all releefe Come wayle with me whose losse is not alone When you your selues haue greatest cause to mone For Drurie he the choyse of all your trayne Your greatest guyde and lampe of clearest light The only man Bellona did retayne Her Champyon chefe and made syr Mars his knight Euen he is now bereaued of his breath T is you t is you may most lament his death Then might I see a warlik crew appeare Came marching on with weapons traylde on ground Their outward show bewrayde their inward cheare Their droms and tromps did yeeld a dolefull sound They marched thus in sad and solemne sort As men amasde to heare this late Report And in the midst of this their heauy muse I might perceiue in sight a worthy Dame Who by her speech and tenure of her newes I knew her well and saw t was Lady Fame With Tromp in hand and thus me thought she sed You worthy wights your Drurie is not dead He liueth he amongst the blessed route Whose noble actes hath purchaste endlesse fame Whylste world doth last no time shall weare him out Nor death for all his spight abridge his name But Drurie still for euer shall remayne His Fame shall liue in Flaunders Fraunce and Spayne The Germanes eke Italyans and the rest Can well discourse of Druries deedes at large With whome he serude a Champyon ready prest At all assaultes the formost to giue charge In many a fraye himselfe he did aduaunce Tweene Charles of Rome and Henrie King of Fraunce In vayne to vaunt the credite he attaynde In natiue soyle where he was knowne so well And Brute hath blowne what glory he hath gaynde In Scotish Land where they themselues can tell In Edenbrough he wan there Mayden tower By fyrst assault perforce the scotishe power But Ireland thou thou thrise accursed soyle Thy luck is losse thy fortune still withstoode What mischiefe more to worke thy greater spoyle Then losse of him that ment thee greatest good Yet canst thou say syr Druries noble name In Ireland still shall bide in lasting fame Wherefore you worthy wightes leaue of to wayle Your Drury liues his fame for aye shall last His vertues byde though wretched lyfe do fayle And taking then her Tromp she blewe a blast Which sounded more his prayse then I can write Or with my tongue expresse in order right Then might I heare the Souldyers giue a shoute The sounde whereof redounded in the skie Great ioy was made amongst the armed route With streined throtes then all at once they cry He liues he liues our Drurie is not deed His vertues rare by Fame shall still be spread In order then themselues they did retire Their weapons vaunst with Ensignes braue displayde What would you more Report is made a lyer Syr Drurie liues sufficeth what is sayde What though his Corpes entombed be in clay His vertues shyne that neuer shall decay Viuit post funaera virtus By Barnabe Ritche Gent. Finis 1580.